Electrical registering system



C. L. GOODRUM. ELECTRICAL REGISTERING SYSTEM; APPLICATION man OCT. 6. 1919.

Patented Nov. 2 l, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. L. GOODRUM.

ELECTRICAL REGISTERING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6. 191-9.

1,436,165, Patent ed Nov. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

iii!" In Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

UNETEE STATES llAdtdltS earner enema,

CHARLES L. GOODRUM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL REGISTERING- SYSTEM.

Application filed October 6, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. GoonRUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Registering Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in telephone systems and has particular reference to an electrical registering system for )arty lines, wherein calls originating in any one of a number of substations are registered and charged to the station making the call.

In my Patent No. 1,250,854 of December 18, 1917, a system is shown wherein a party line subscriber, upon initiating a call, operates an impulse mechanism to select and associate with his line during the conversational period, one of a plurality of register mechanisms. This register mechanism is actuated by a reversal of current over the line after the called subscriber has answered. I

The object of this invention is the provision of an improved and simplified system over that disclosed in the above mentioned patent, in which one of a plurality of register mechanisms may be connected with a calling station on a party line during the conversational period, by the operation of a meter impulse mechanism which may be associated with any ordinary subscribers set. The register mechanism is actuated when the called subscriber answers.

Another object of the invention is to make more sure the connection of the proper meter with the calling station before the connection with the called subscriber can be completed by the use of less apparatus and a simpler circuit than that disclosed in the above mentioned patent.

In accordance with the object of the invention. an electromagnetic device is actuated to select the register mechanism individual to a station of a party line by the im pulses from an impulse mechanism which sends impulses having a different characteristic from those that are sent by the usual Serial No. 328,622.

impulse mechanism employed in automatic telephone systems for the establishment of a connection to a called subscriber.

The invention is shown as applied to a full automatic telephone system, but is obviously applicable to manual and semi-automatic systems as well as to other uses.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate diagrammatically the application of the invention to a full automatic telephone system. Fig. 1 represents a party line having four stations and shows the apparatus for associating with any station thereon the register mechanism individual thereto, while Fig. 2 shows the line switch, a connector and the called substation.

- Referring to Fig. 1, A, B, C and D represent subscribers sets on the same party line, the substation circuit being shown for station D which will be assumed to be party 1V. Associated with each substation is a meter impulse mechanism separate firom the ordinary impulse mechanism, which, on actuation, automatically sends a series of impulses differing in number for each of the individual stations on the party line. The meter impulse mechanism 1, shown for station IV, is connected difierently in the circuit from the ordinary impulse mechanism 12, and is so arranged that upon operation, a series of impulses is sent simultaneously over the two conductors 7 and 13 of the line to operate the magnet 5 of the electromagnetic device. The number ot impulses sent diii'ers according to the station of the party line, and acts to connect the proper register mechanism with the calling line. The meter impulse mechanisms for the various stations of the party line would differ only in the number of impulses that would be produced, for example, the impulse mechanism for party I would produce three less impulses, for party II two less, and for party 111 one less impulse than for party IV.

The different subscribers on the same party line come into the exchange over common line conductors as 7 and 13.

Upon removal of the calling subscribers receiver, a circuit may be traced from grounded battery, left-hand winding of magnet 5, back contact and outer armature of relay 6, conductor 7, induction coil winding 8, receiver hook 9, transmitter 11, impulse sender 12, conductor 18, inner armature and back contact of relay 6, and right-hand winding of magnet 5 to grounded battery. Since this circuit ends at its originating point, magnet 5 is not energized upon removal of the receiver from the hook. The subscriber now operates the meter impulse mechanism 1, which causes both sides of the line to be grounded simultaneously and to send the required number of impulses to operate the electromagnetic device 5 to associate with his station the meter individual thereto.

Upon the first closure of the line circuit, magnet 5 is energized over the follow ing circuit, grounded battery, left-hand winding of magnet 5, back contact and outer armature of relay 6, conductor 7, contact 2, spring 3 to ground; another circuit extends from grounded battery, right-hand winding of magnet 5, back contact and inner armature of relay 6, conductor 13, contact 41-, contact 2, and spring 8 to ground. The magnet 5 is energized and completes a circuit at its front contact and left-hand armature for slow relay 15. The relay 15 upon energization, short circuits the line leading to the line finder switch at its contacts 40,

42 and opens the circuit to cutoff relay 6 at contacts 11, 18. Magnet 5, upon energization, also attracts its armature 20 carrying a stepping pawl 21 adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 22, to move the same one step. The ratchet wheel 22 carries an arm 23, which has thus been moved to engage contact 2et associated with the alarm relay 25. Upon attraction of the armature 20, the finger 26 of the armature 20 rotating about the pivot 27, raises the lever 28, causing the holding pawl 29 to be released and to hold the ratchet wheel in the position to which it has been moved. The alarm relay 25 is connected to contact 24: and will be energized over a circuit extending from ground, through contact 3%, arm 23, contact 2 1, and winding of relay 25 to battery, to connect an alarm signal in case the line is grounded through design on the part of the subscriber or due to a ground on the line. The alarm signal. is not operated each time a register mechanism is selected because the arm does not rest long enough on contact 2 1 to allow slow-acting relay 25 to attract its armature. Four other impulses are produced by the impulse mechanism 1, which cause the arm 23 to be stepped to position the same on contact At the end of the last meter impulse the magnet 5 is deenergized, thus releasing its armatures. At its left-hand armature the circuit of slow-release relay 15 is opened causing its deenergizatiou, As the armature when relay 15 was energized over the fol lowing circuit: round, left-hand winding of relay 100, upper normal contact of relay 101, conductor 102, conductor 50, contacts 10, 12 of relay 15, conductor 51, conductor 103, lower normal contact of relay 101, and

right-hand winding of relay to grounded battery. Energization of relay 100 prepares a circuit for cut-off relay 6 over the fol lowing path: ground, armature and front contact of relay 100, conductor 10%, conductor 52, contacts 11 and 13 of relay 15, and winding of relay 6 to grounded battery. Upon deenergization of relay 15, this cir cuit for relay 6 is completed and the station A is connected through to the line switch. Energization of relay 100 causes the line switch to seek an idle connector. In larger systems a selector or selectors may be interposed between the line switch and the connector E. A circuit for motor magnet 106 is established over the following path: grounded battery, back contact and armature of motor magnet 106, lowermost armature and back contact of relay 101, front contact and righthand armature of relay 100, brush 113, contact 119, and front contact and left-hand armature of relay 100 to ground. The brushes are moved one step at a time over the contacts as long as ground is found on the test contacts. After the brushes are moved from the first contactwhich is the normal position, ground will be found on the test contact of the selector or connector if it is busy. When no ground is found, the motor magnet 106 will cease to operate and a circuit will be established for relay 101 extending from grounded battery, back contact armature and winding of motor magnet 106, winding of relay 101, and front contact and left-hand armature of relay 100 to ground. Relay 101 has a high resistance so that magnet 106 will not operate in series with it. Relay 101, upon energization, attracts its armature thus interrupting the circuit for relay 100 and extending the circuit for the substationthrough to the connector causing energization of the stepping relay 130 thereat, which, upon attraction of its armature, completes a circuit for slow relay 131. Slow relay 131. upon energization, completes a locking cir cuit for relay 101 over the following path: ground, armature and front contact of relay 131, contact 1 13, brush 113, front contact and lower middle armature of relay 101.

winding of relay, 101, winding of magnet 100, and armature and back contact thereof to grounded battery. Upon deenergizaticn of relay 100, relay 6 is held up over the following path: grounded battery, winding of relay 6, contacts 13, d1, conductor 52, conductor 101, lower middle armature and front contact of relay 101, brush 113, contact 1 13, and front contact and armature of relay 131 to ground.

The connector switch E is then set in the usual manner in operative relation to the called subscribers line at substation F, and in event that the called subscriber is not busy, a connection will be established for signaling the called subscriber in the usual manner.

The subscriber at substation 1 upon removing his receiver, energizes the relay 135 over a circuit extending from grounded battery left-hand winding of relay 135, through upper brush and contact oi connector E, substation apparatus, intermediate contact and brush of connector E, right-hand winding of relay 135 to grounded battery. Relay 135 attracts its armature and completes a circuit for register magnet 1V extending from ground, front contact and armature of relay 135, contact 142, brush 112, conductor 105, conductor 53, arm 23, contact 33, and winding of register magnet IV to grounded battery. The armature 01' magnet 11 is attracted thus operating the register mechanism.

At the termination of conversation, the connector switch may be returned to normal in any manner well-known in the art. Assuming calling substation D hangs up, the loop is opened, relays 130 and then 131 are deenergized, and the holding circuit for relay 101 is interrupted causing its deenergization. A circuit for motor magnet 106 is closed extending from grounded battery, back contact and armature oi magnet 106, winding thereof, lowermost armature and back contact of relay 101, brush 1141, ha 136, and back contact and armature of relay 100 to ground. Magnet 106 steps the switch until normal contact 120 is reached where there is no ground.

Release or" relay 131 of the connector removed the ground from the test contact 1 13, thus deenergizing relay 6. Armature of relay 6 upon retracting moves the arm 23. causing the nose thereon to engage the holding pawl 29 and remove it from engagement with the ratchet wheel 22. Under tension of spring 62, the arm 23 and ratchet wheel 22 are returned to normal position, and the system is ready for the next call.

What is claimed is:

In a telephone exchange system, a party line having a plurality of stations thereon, a register mechanism individual to each of said stations, another line to which connection is desired, automatic switches for connecting said party line with said other line, an impulse mechanism for controlling the operation of said automatic switches, a meter impulse mechanism individual to each station of the party line for transmitting a series of impulses over two conductors of said partly line in parallel, and means actuated in response to the impulses from said meter impulse mechanism to associate with said station the register mechanism individual thereto.

2. In a telephone exchange system, a party line having a plurality of stations thereon,

a register In clianism individual to each of said stations, another line to which connection is desired, automatic switches for connecting said party line with said other line, an impulse mechanism for controlling the operation of said automatic switches, a meter impulse mechanism individual. to each station of the party line for transmitting a series of impulses over two conductors of said party line in parallel, means actuated in response to the impulses from said meter impulse mechanism to associate with said station the register mechanism individual thereto, and means to operate said register mechanism.

3. In a telephone system, a party line having a plurality of substations, a, register mechanism individual to each of said substations, means individual to each substation for transmitting a series of impulses in parallel over the conductors of said line, and means actuated in response to said series of impulses transmitted from each station to associate with said line the register mechanism individual thereto.

1. In a telephone system, a party line having a plurality of substations, a register mechanism individual to each of said substations, means individual to each substation for transmitting a series of impulses in parallel over the conductors of said line, means actuated in response to said series of impulses transmitted from each station to associate with said line the register mechanism individual thereto, and means to operate said register mechanism.

5. In a telephone exchange system, a party line having aplurality of stations thereon. register mechanism individual to each of said stations, another line to which connection is desired, means to establish connection between said lines, means individual to each station for transmitting series of impulses in parallel over the conductors of said line, and means actuated in response to said series of impulses transmitted from each station to associate with said line the register mechanism individual thereto.

6. In a telephone exchange system. a party line having a plurality 01" stations thereon. register mechanism individual to each of said stations, another line to which connection is desired. means to establish connection between said lines, means individual to each station for transmitting series 01 impulses in parallel over the conductors of said line, means actuated in response to said series of impulses transmitted from each station to associate with said line the register mechanism individual thereto, and means to operate said register mechanism.

7. in a telephone exchange system, aparty line having a plurality oi. stations thereon, a register mechanism individual to each of stations, another line to which connection is desired, automatic switches for connecting said party line with said other line, an impulse mechanism for controlling the operation ot' said automatic switches, a meter impulse mechanism individual to each station oil a party line for transmitting over said party line a series of impulses over a plurality of parallel paths, and means actuated over said. parallel paths in response to the impulses frcun said meter impulse mechanism to associate with said station the register mechanism individual thereto.

8. In a telephone exchange system, a party line having a plurality oil. stations thereon, a register mechanism individual to each of said stations, another line to which connection is desired, automatic switches for connecting said party line with said other line, an impulse mechanism for controlling the operation of said automatic switches, a meter impulse mechanism individual to each station of a party line for transmitting over said party line a series of impulses over a oiurality of parallel paths, means actuated over said parallel paths in response to the impulses from said meter impulse mechanism to associate with said station the register mechanism individual thereto, and means to operate said register mechanism.

9. In a telephone exchange system, a callin g part line having plurality of branches, a called line, means to interconnect said lines, a register mechanism individual to each of said branches oi? the calling line, impulse transmitting means individual to each branch of the calling line to control the operation of said interconnecting means, n'ieter impulse transmitting means individual to each branch at the calling line for transmitting impulses over the two sides of said line in parallel, and an electromagnetic stepby-step device responsive to impulses from said meter impulse transmitting means only, for associating with one of said branches the register mechanism individual thereto.

10. ln atelephone exchange system, a calling party line l'iaving a plurality of branches, a called line, means to interconnect said lines, a register mechanism individual to each of said branches oi the calling line, impulse transmitting)" means individual to each branch of the calling line to control the operation of said interconnecting means, meter impulse transmitting means individual to each branch of the calling line for transmitting impulses over the two sides of said line in parallel, an electromagnetic step-loystep device responsive to impulses from said meter impulse transmitting means only, for associatin with one of said branches the register mechanism individual thereto, and means to operate said register mechanism.

11. In a telephone system, a line, a line switch therefor, a register mechanism for said line, a second line, automatic switches for interconnecting said lines, an impulse mechanism for transmitting current impulses over two sides of said first mentioned line in series for controlling the operation 01 said automatic switches, a meter impulse mechanism for simultaneously grounding each of the conductors 0]": said first mentioned line a predetermined number oi. times, an electromagnetic step-bystep device responsive to the actuation of said meter impulse mechanism for connecting said register mechanism with said first mentioned line, and means to connect said first line through to said line switch after association of said register mechanism with said first line.

12. In a telephone system, a line, a line switch therefor, a register mechanism for said line, a second line, automatic switches -for interconnecting said lines, an impulse mechanism for controlling the operation of said automatic switches, a meter impulse mechanism for simultaneously grounding each of the conductors of said first men-- tioned line a predetermined number of times, an electromagnetic step-by-step device responsive to said impulses only for. associating said register mechanism witn said first line, means to connect said first line through to said line switch after association of said register mechanism with said first line, and means to operate said register mechanism.

13. In a telephone system, a calling line, a plurality of stations thereon, a meter for each of said stations, an impulse sender at each station of the line for producing a series of impulses individual to the station, and a step-by-step device controllable over two conductors o1 said line in parallel by said sender iorassociating with the calling line the meter individual thereto.

14. In a telephone system, a calling line, a plurality of stations thereon, a meter for each of said stations, an impulse sender at each station of the line for producing a series of impulses individual to thestation. a step-bystep device controllable over two conductors of said line in parallel by said sender for associating with the calling line the meter individual thereto, and means for extending the line of the calling station after the meter individual to the caling station has been associated therewith.

15. In a telephone system, a party line,

a plurality of stations thereon, a meter for vidual thereto, and a second impulse sender associated with each station of said calling line for operating said automatlc SWllJOllGS .after the meter individual to the calling station has been associated therewith.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscrio-s my name this %th day of October A. 1).. 1919.

CHARLES L. GOODRUM. 

